The 26th Annual Legal Update for Government and Attorneys and Administrators is comprised of two full days of training. Government attorneys, administrators, and state agency directors are encouraged to attend to learn more about topics that pertain to their daily work

The 2-Day Legal Update training will take place on May 16 – 17, 2024, at Robinson Center in Little Rock.

26th Annual Legal Update for Government  Attorneys and Administrators  

Still Ballroom – Robinson Center 

 

Thursday, May 16, 2024 

AGENDA              

                 

8:30 to 8:40 a.m. Welcome 

Attorney General Tim Griffin 

 

8:40 to 9:40 a.m. Procurement 

Jessica Patterson, Director of Procurement  

 

9:40 to 9:50 a.m. Break 

 

9:50 to 10:50 a.m. Employment Law-EEOC Charge through Litigation 

Brian Black, Senior Assistant Attorney General 

Trey Cooper, Assistant Attorney General 

 

10:50 to 11:00 a.m. Break 

 

11:00 a.m. to Noon Ethics and AI 

Matthew M. Ford, CIPP/US, CIPM, CIPT, CIPP/E, CompTIA CASP+ 

Assistant Attorney General 

 

Noon – 1:00 p.m. LUNCH BREAK 

 

1:00 to 2:00 p.m. United States Supreme Court Update 

Nicholas Bronni, Solicitor General 

Dylan Jacobs, Deputy Solicitor General  

 

2:00 to 2:15 p.m. Break 

 

2:15 to 4:15 p.m.  Advanced Overdose Investigations/Fentanyl Bill  

Dr. Ted Brown, M.D., Arkansas State Crime Laboratory  

Representative Jimmy Gazaway, Arkansas House of Representatives

Senator Ben Gilmore, Arkansas Senate

Chris Givens, Criminal Chief, U.S. Attorney’s Office

 

Friday, May 17, 2024 

AGENDA              

                 

8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Employment Law – The Basics 

Doralee Chandler, Deputy Attorney General – State Agencies  Division  

Michael Lewis, Senior Assistant Attorney General – State Agencies Division    

 

9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Contract Review – Acceptable Terms for State Contracts 

Julie Chavis, Senior Assistant Attorney General – State Agencies Division  

Sarah DeBusk, Assistant Attorney General – State Agencies Division   

 

10:30 to 10:40 a.m. Break 

 

10:40 to 11:40 a.m. Budgeting for State Agencies 

Robert Brech, State Budget Director – Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration 

  

11:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. The Chair as Hearing Officer 

Michael Bynum, Assistant Attorney General – State Agencies Division 

 

12:10 – 1:15 p.m. LUNCH BREAK 

 

1:15 to 2:15 p.m. Bureau of Legislative Research: Bill Drafting Basics 

Matthew Miller, Assistant Director for Legal Services – Bureau of Legislative Research 

 

2:15 to 2:30 p.m. BREAK  

 

2:30 to 4:00 p.m. FOIA – An Open Meeting Guide 

William Olson, Assistant Attorney General – Opinions Division    

 

4:00 p.m. Closing Remarks 

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

Attorney General Tim Griffin would like to invite you to the FREE 13th annual Missing Persons Event. This is a special gathering for families and the Arkansas community to raise awareness of the issues surrounding missing persons and to recognize Arkansas’s missing. 

​​Register today to join us Thursday, November 7th, at the Hot Springs Convention Center for the 13th annual summit. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Register today for Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin’s statewide Elder Abuse Conference. The training will be held September 26, 2024, at the Graduate Hotel in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This all-day event is free and open to the public. Law enforcement, medical professionals, providers, attorneys and home caregivers are welcome to learn how to better protect older and developmentally disabled adults.